Thomas Boyd, The OregonianTimbers midfielder and captain Jack Jewsbury wants his teammates to remain calm after an opponent scores a goal. The Timbers will face the Los Angeles Galaxy Saturday night at the Home Depot Center.

The Timbers are riding a two-game winning streak that has propelled them from last place to fourth place in the Western Conference. The offense is clicking and their nine goals is tied for the league lead.

"We are brimming with confidence," Portland head coach John Spencer said.

That confidence, along with the winning streak and prolific goal scoring -seven goals in last two games - will face considerable pressure when the Timbers (2-2-1, seven points) play at the Los Angeles Galaxy Saturday night at the Home Depot Center.

"Their forwards have been dangerous. (Kenny) Cooper is going to be a handful out of set pieces and crosses. That's the one thing you certainly see out of that team," Arena said. "They've given up some goals yet they've still managed to win some games."

The Galaxy (3-1-3, 12 points) is just as confident - maybe even more so - as the Timbers. Los Angeles is coming off a tough three-game road trip in which it was able to secure five points with one win and two draws. Los Angeles is tied with Real Salt Lake at the top of the Western Conference and the Galaxy again harbors league championship aspirations.

The expansion Timbers will step onto the field at the Home Depot Center Saturday night and see the Galaxy's bevy of global stars including Landon Donovan - Donovan is expected to play after missing the Galaxy's three previous games with a knee injury - David Beckham and Juan Pablo Angel. Spencer said he doesn't expect the Timbers to shrink from the Galaxy and wants the players to treat the Galaxy the same as their previous five MLS opponents.

"We've got to prepare the same way mentally and physically," Spencer said. "I don't think we can treat anybody with disrespect or give any team too much respect."

The return of Donovan - who Spencer says is the best player in MLS - to the lineup will give the Galaxy a boost. But the Timbers aren't conceding anything to Donovan.

"He's a good player and we give him that respect," Portland defender Mamadou "Futty" Danso said. "But we can't say, 'That's Landon Donovan' and give him so much respect that we let him do whatever he wants to do."

What will be a concern for the Timbers' is their recent penchant for conceding goals in late-game situations. The Timbers allowed FC Dallas to score twice - within a span of four minutes - in the final 10 minutes before winning 3-2 April 17. Portland also conceded a goal in the 84th minute against Chicago in its 4-2 win April 14.

"It starts with concentration," Spencer said. "Most goals can be avoided, because most goals come from mistakes.We know we made mistakes and it's important that we truly try to nullify them and keep the mistakes down to a minimum."

Portland midfielder Jack Jewsbury said it's important for the Timbers to maintain their composure after allowing a goal, no matter the score and how much time is remaining in the game.

"I just think we need to make sure we stay calm," Jewsbury said. "Just take a deep breath and know that we're fine…and not to get in a hurry."

The Timbers remained calm in their most recent road game at New England after they fell behind in the first half. Jewsbury scored the equalizer goal and the Timbers left New England with a point after a 1-1 draw. The Timbers have fallen behind in each their first three road games and none of those teams (Colorado, Toronto, New England) possessed the scoring ability of the Galaxy.